Recognizing the triggers that cause emotional or physical responses is the first step in learning to manage them. If a situation prompts an uncomfortable or negative feeling, ask yourself if it is related to a past experience in your life. Then try to identify the emotion or feelings that you are experiencing as a result of the trigger. Naming the emotion honors your feelings and helps you to avoid being a victim of the triggers that are rooted in your past.
Empower yourself to work through your feelings. Don't use triggers as an excuse for giving up. Once you learn to recognize your triggers, you can start to make a plan for what you will do if you encounter that trigger again. Your plan might include:
If you know that a situation is going to cause you to feel or react negatively, then avoid it or walk away if possible. Don't continue to set yourself up for negative outcomes un-necessarily. Remember that you are in charge of your reactions; the triggers do not have to control you. Through trial and error, you can find ways to push past the effects of negative triggers on your life.
